For one thing, I would like to introduce myself again. I've now been here long enough that I think I'm starting to get a better idea of where I fit in.

I have just started MA (Matsubayashi) recently at the semi-advanced age of 38, after doing nothing with my body for 20 years. On top of it, I have 2 blown knees. However, I am REALLY enjoying my new "life" in MA and it has quickly become very important to me. I train as hard as I can while trying to support 3 kids and I enjoy reading this forum quite a bit but feel underqualified to offer anything since there are so many experts around here.

This brings me to my suggestion: Could we have a forum for MAs with under 2-3 years experience? I think you would all agree that as we continue with MA training, our understanding of techniques and methods and basic underlying concepts changes. They become more complex as learning builds on learning. Therefore, a beginner could be "correct" about something but still only have a rudimentary understanding of the complexities. This is as it should be and such a person is not yet ready to understand the deeper knowledge.However, the above being the case, there is very little for those of us with less experience to add here in FA. Some, who want to "join" are pressured to pretend to be what they are not and wind up posing. Others simply feel rebuffed or out of place.So what about it? How about a "Non-Black Belt" sub-forum?

hi dont feel like you are the only rookie i was training from books and dvds for about five years now im not that great at it but i think i have potential mabey.the greatness of fightingarts.com allows evan the rookies like me to chat about experiances and to get help.

I think it would be a good idea to have a forum about the greatness of this site

What are folks opinions specific to the SPEAR hand techniques? There are some (?) who train and trained zealously at them. There are others who maintain the stupid myths (to get through samurai bamboo armor) and yet there are lots of youtube demos, etc.. showing folks who can drive their thick stubby fingers through things quite compellingly.

What's your take... "spear hand conditioning" to rip meat off bones? Spear hand techniques one part of the larger toolbox... ? If you have them in what manner do YOU utilize the spearhand and who do you think they are best used IYo, IYE????